new yugo

What is the best way to get cosmoline off yugo 59/66. Just bought it yesterday and can' t wait to get to range.

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Marion Cobretti

December 23, 2007, 10:14 AM

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/cosmoline/index.asp

They use a Yugo SKS for the demonstration

There are many other ways, mineral spirits, place rifle in black bag and put in hot car, etc...

worthirt_99

December 23, 2007, 10:16 AM

Mineral Spirits (Paint Thinner) works well, so does heat. Two big parts that people forget about are the gas assembly, they get the piston and tube but forget the extension and the trigger assembly on the inside.

MIL-DOT

December 23, 2007, 10:39 AM

I've read numerous times that boiling hot water is one of the best ways to remove cosmolene.

worthirt_99

December 23, 2007, 10:51 AM

I've read numerous times that boiling hot water is one of the best ways to remove cosmolene.

True, I used it myself a few times. Just remember that if you go that route, use a pan that you don't mind getting rid of, or if you have alot of Mil-surp firearms you use it for that purpose only. You will basically ruin that pan and trust me, don't ever cook with it again!

Geno

December 23, 2007, 10:53 AM

Gibbs brand lubricant and an old toothbrush works awesome. The stuff literally melts away.

Doc2005

worthirt_99

December 23, 2007, 10:55 AM

Before you hear it from someone, I'll say it. Gasoline works well but, DON'T USE IT!

Claude Clay

December 23, 2007, 10:57 AM

walgreens often has in stock for $30 a hand held steamer with attachments. i used this on a yugo last summer (fully disassembled) on all parts. 2 hours later i was done ( even the wood finished ). FWIW

Neo-Luddite

December 23, 2007, 04:50 PM

One caution--DO get that firing pin out! I thought I was slick, and did a mineral spirit soak on everything metal (including the bolt) but could get the *&^%$ retaining pin out to take the firing pin out. Figuring I had it licked, I rinsed the the bolt and metal parts in soapy water/ boiling water rinse, and then baked the bolt in a pie tin in the oven at 300F. As I thought, liquid cosmo just gushed out, even starting a little fire. After, the pin 'clicked' and sounded clean. First time out, everything went well, but the pin snapped while installed in the bolt; the one 'shortcut' I took bit me. Oddly, while unsafe, the rifle still worked fine with the broken pin in place.

The steamer Claude Clay mentions above is supposed to be very good. Be careful with mineral spirits as the fumes are flamamble/explosive. It was a several hour ordeal.

22HM77

December 23, 2007, 04:54 PM

Why not use gasoline?

Aguila Blanca

December 23, 2007, 06:15 PM

^^^ You're joking ... right?

worthirt_99

December 23, 2007, 10:23 PM

Why not use gasoline?

^^^ You're joking ... right? +1

Soybomb

December 24, 2007, 01:30 AM

One caution--DO get that firing pin out! I thought I was slick, and did a mineral spirit soak on everything metal (including the bolt) but could get the *&^%$ retaining pin out to take the firing pin out. Figuring I had it licked, I rinsed the the bolt and metal parts in soapy water/ boiling water rinse, and then baked the bolt in a pie tin in the oven at 300F. As I thought, liquid cosmo just gushed out, even starting a little fire. After, the pin 'clicked' and sounded clean. First time out, everything went well, but the pin snapped while installed in the bolt; the one 'shortcut' I took bit me. Oddly, while unsafe, the rifle still worked fine with the broken pin in place.
The people who don't get the firing pin channel cleaned and are more unlucky wind up with the pin stuck out and firing on its own after you take the first shot. You're advice is the most important of all. No matter how much time you spend degreasing the rest of the rifle you need to take the bolt completely apart and clean it.

worthirt_99

December 24, 2007, 02:28 AM

I forgot about the bolt myself. Sometimes the retaining pin is hard to remove. A punch and a hammer should do the trick though. If you drill a hole in a board, you should give the retaining pin enough room to start sliding out.

Oh an addition to this, whatever you do, do not oil the pin! Just clean it well and put it back in. Oil has a habit of making it stick. If it does that, you might as well not have cleaned it at all since the risk is the same.

flynlr

December 24, 2007, 03:36 AM

I used the 30 dollar steamer and it worked great! my only malfunction was after using a punch to get the firing pin retainer out it would not go in easily so the punch was brought back into use and I broke the tab on the Retainer.
a few dollars and a week later I had 2 replacement retainers in the mail and all is good now.

LeafsFan

January 8, 2008, 12:32 AM

Hi willy8457,

I bought the same type of SKS a couple days before you did. I cleaned mine with a $35 hand-held steam cleaner and Goo Gone. It melted the cosmoline like magic.

Here's a link to some pics I took to document the occasion:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=36441&l=79a2b&id=578871969

Frog48

January 8, 2008, 12:51 AM

I used automotive brake cleaner. Worked great.

doberman

January 8, 2008, 01:26 AM

I used brake cleaner as well when I ran out of the much more expensive "Gun Scrubber".

And a lot of Q-tips!

I'll have to look into the "bolt" issue though. So far no ploblems.

Seriously. Is this REALLY something to be overly concerned about?

Or is this another one of those things like "keeping my mags loaded will ruin the springs" or KB's with Glocks? Both of which turned out to be little to worry about.

Like I said, I used brake cleaner and sprayed the bolt down good, than lightly lubed it with CLR. BC left the rest of the gun squeeky clean, I don't see how it would be any different with the bolt?

:confused:

chris in va

January 8, 2008, 01:29 AM

Probably not the fastest/most efficient method, but I boiled the smaller parts then used a steam wand on the rest.

Took 4+ hours and two rolls of paper towels, but man that thing was completely devoid of cosmo save for the stock.

Then I sold it and bought a Saiga.:p

blo0dyhatchet

January 8, 2008, 01:30 AM

The firing pin is a cone shape and can very easily be stuck in the forward position causing slam fires which are bad for everyone. So yes, it can be a big deal.

MilsurpShooter

January 8, 2008, 10:58 AM

One method I've used is the black garbage bag on a hot day method. Old black garbage bag, one of the dish dryer racks, set the stock on the rack, inside the garbage bag, place in the sun (Some place it inside a car but be careful it stinks to high heaven) takes a few days but it's the least labor intensive.

Took me 2 days to do my 91/30. Left the stock in the bag while I was cleaning up the metal and the bore.

silverlance

January 8, 2008, 11:24 AM

The firing pin is easily also one of the most PITA gun parts I've ever seen. It ranks up there with putting back together TWO Remington Mod 11 shotguns that my buddy helpfully disassembled into one pile of parts (parts are hand fitted!), and trying to put the gas pistol assembly back into a kel-tec su16 in the dark.

why not skip the pain and fuss and send the bolt assembly to Mr. Murray at Murray's mods? He's a very good guy, does excellent work, and for $35 will strip, clean, and replace your free slamming firing pin with a return-spring modified new FP. your old fp will be put in a baggie and also returned to you.

TehK1w1

January 8, 2008, 12:53 PM

Also, once you get your gun assembled, I would clean out the gas tube every time you shoot it. It can be a PITA, but it does a lot to prevent jamming, which the Yugo is prone to if not kept clean. (Grenade launcher attachment tends to impair the gas operation somehow.) Also, make sure the little Knob in front of the gas piston is at the 2 o'clock position! :)

strat81

January 8, 2008, 01:04 PM

For wood stocks, try antique furniture restorer/refinisher. Formby's has a blend, as do other brands. It smells like Acetone and Mineral Spirits and will strip the finish on the stock quickly, removing cosmoline with it. Follow up with some boiling water on the stock, then some fine sand paper and steel wool. Finish with tung oil, BLO, or your choice of finish.

Do not use the above method on a very nice, vintage stock, you'll kill the collector value.

Evenflo76

January 8, 2008, 02:29 PM

Mineral Spirits. 1 - 1 1/2 gallons. Nylon and brass brushes. Steaming Hot Water. I have a slop sink which is < 5 ft away from my water heater. I ran scolding hot water on items like the bayo mount and grenade launcher sight.

The methods from surplus rifle work very well. Do what everybody says here and DEFINITELY DISASSEMBLE THE BOLT. I thoroughly cleaned mine and still had issues. I urge you to buy one of these http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

Cheap Insurance. check out Tech-Sights too. They work great!

takhtakaal

January 8, 2008, 02:39 PM

Follow up with some boiling water on the stock, then some fine sand paper and steel wool.

Nope. You never use steel wool on a stock. Never. Use copper wool, instead -- no risk of rust whatsoever.

takhtakaal

January 8, 2008, 02:47 PM

Yeah. Big +1 on cleaning out that bolt, popping the pin, or even replacing it.

There's a sea story about a limited-English-proficiency rifle buyer, originally from Southeast Asia, who bought an SKS variant with a 30 round detachable magazine (Norinco D or M?). Supposedly, he brought it home, sat down at the kitchen table, loaded up the magazine, inserted it, racked a round into the chamber, and then stitched thirty holes through the poor, unfortunate defenseless refrigerator.

How do you say "Hey, watch this!" in Vietnamese?

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